The Strata Collectivehttps://www.thestratacollective.com.au
The Next Generation in Strata Management
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1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.1.1https://www.thestratacollective.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/cropped-favicon-510x510-32x32.pngThe Strata Collectivehttps://www.thestratacollective.com.au
3232Crackdown on AirBnB Holiday Rentalshttps://www.thestratacollective.com.au/crackdown-on-airbnb-holiday-rentals/
https://www.thestratacollective.com.au/crackdown-on-airbnb-holiday-rentals/#respondSun, 02 Sep 2018 20:02:24 +0000https://thestratacollective.com.au/crackdown-on-airbnb-holiday-rentals/Sydney has become the latest city to propose a crackdown on Airbnb holiday rentals. It has now joined the growing number of cities around the world regulating short-term holiday letting. After months of speculation, the NSW Government has released the Fair Trading Amendment (Short-term Rental Accommodation) Bill 2018 (Airbnb Reform Package). The Airbnb Reform Package...

Sydney has become the latest city to propose a crackdown on Airbnb holiday rentals. It has now joined the growing number of cities around the world regulating short-term holiday letting. After months of speculation, the NSW Government has released the Fair Trading Amendment (Short-term Rental Accommodation) Bill 2018 (Airbnb Reform Package).

The Airbnb Reform Package defines ‘short term rental accommodation’ as a commercial arrangement which gives a person the right to occupy part or all of a residential premises for a period of less than three months. However, the usual process for adopting by-laws by special resolution will still apply. That means a 75 per cent vote in support of the by-law at a general meeting of the Owner’s Corporation will be required which provide an Owner’s Corporation the right to pass a by-law restricting short-term letting in certain circumstances.

The introduction of the reform package aims to clarify whether an Owner’s Corporation can take advantage of a by-law prohibiting short-term letting of a residential property. The reformation will allow an Owner’s Corporation to pass a by-law which prevents an owner of a strata lot to use their property for short term rental accommodation if the lot is not the owner’s principal place of residence.

According to the Airbnb Reform Package, by-laws can still be adopted requiring lot owners to notify the Owner’s Corporation at least 21 days before the change of use of a lot. By‑laws can also be adopted restricting the occupancy of bedrooms in a lot to no more than two adults. These types of by-laws may assist Owner’s Corporation in controlling overcrowding related to short-term letting and managing the process generally.

It is well noted that Airbnb Reform Package will not stop Owner’s Corporations from introducing other measures that will govern how short-term rentals will work within their strata schemes.

Under the new restrictions, owners who do not live in their property will still be able to rent out their unit on Airbnb with a limit of 180 days per year only. Any hosts that breach a new code of practice can be sanctioned by local authorities, which will have the power to police online platforms. Large fines will apply if hosts are repeatedly in breach of a Strata’s by-laws. The government said that the reforms will carry a two-strike policy, which would see hosts or guests who commit two serious breaches of the code within two years banned from using Airbnb and other similar platforms for five years and placed on an exclusion register. In addition, significant penalties for non-compliance with the terms of the code will apply, with online booking platforms and property agents facing civil penalties of up to $1.1m for corporations and $220,000 for individuals.

The reform package will also introduce a mandatory code of conduct and a complaints system which will apply to online platforms such as Airbnb. This includes a mandatory code of conduct ‘two strikes and you’re out’ policy, as well as a complaints system which will be available to neighbors of short-term rental accommodation, strata committees and Owner’s Corporations. Complaints will be assessed by independent adjudicators approved by NSW Fair Trading. If the investigation of a complaint regarding a host or guest finds that they have committed a serious breach of the code more than once over a two-year period, the guest or host will be listed on an exclusion register.

To operate in the state, Airbnb and similar operators will be required to adhere to the said code of conduct and share data with the NSW Government. Companies that breach the code of conduct will face hefty fines of up to $1.1 million.

A serious breach could include any behaviour interfering with “a neighbour’s quiet and peaceful enjoyment of their home”. Banned users would be added to the register to ensure they cannot “platform shop”. If the complaints are specific to a property, that host could still be able to continue letting other properties.

The NSW Government also announced that strata communities would be able to decide whether to ban Airbnb in their buildings or apartment blocks. They will be given the power to block apartments from being used as rentals if 75 percent of strata owners vote against it. However, they will not be able to ban owner-occupiers from renting individual rooms.

The Government has also announced proposals for a new statewide planning instrument which will allow short-term letting as exempt development 365 days per year when the host is present. Moreover, a 180-day cap on properties used for Airbnb-style letting in greater Sydney will be imposed which means it will limit the ability of hosts to rent out their properties to 180 days where the host is not present.

]]>https://www.thestratacollective.com.au/crackdown-on-airbnb-holiday-rentals/feed/0The Strata Collective Wins Prestigious Awardhttps://www.thestratacollective.com.au/the-strata-collective-wins-prestigious-award/
https://www.thestratacollective.com.au/the-strata-collective-wins-prestigious-award/#respondWed, 08 Aug 2018 13:28:56 +0000https://thestratacollective.com.au/the-strata-collective-wins-prestigious-award/Each year SCA NSW conducts strata community awards to recognise excellence in the industry. The winners of these awards are then recognised as finalists in the National Awards which will be conducted in 2019. There were nine award categories in total this year and we are very proud and honored to announce that The Strata...

Each year SCA NSW conducts strata community awards to recognise excellence in the industry. The winners of these awards are then recognised as finalists in the National Awards which will be conducted in 2019.

There were nine award categories in total this year and we are very proud and honored to announce that The Strata Collective was the recipient of the ‘Strata Community Management Business – Small’ award 2018.

The Principal of The Strata Collective, Rod Smith, was thrilled to be recognised, in front of his peers, for his efforts and commitment to the strata community industry.

Criteria for the award included:

What makes the business uniqueGrowth strategiesStaff trainingInnovations in the businessMeasuring successEthicsClient feedback

We can talk all we like about how well we are doing in the industry but it is genuine feedback from clients which is a true indication of an award-winning business.

Congratulations to The Strata Collective for their awesome achievement after such a short period in business. They will continue to grow and push the boundaries by bringing professionalism and a new age of innovation to the industry.

]]>https://www.thestratacollective.com.au/the-strata-collective-wins-prestigious-award/feed/0Strata Committee Conflict Over Repairshttps://www.thestratacollective.com.au/strata-committee-conflict-over-repairs/
https://www.thestratacollective.com.au/strata-committee-conflict-over-repairs/#respondSun, 15 Jul 2018 15:19:05 +0000https://thestratacollective.com.au/strata-committee-conflict-over-repairs/The following scenario was presented to me. We are in the process of an NCAT dispute over the Owners Corporation’s failure to repair the common property. We have concrete cancer that is damaging the flooring in our unit and the Owners Corporation have not made any repairs for nearly two years. I hold a general...

We are in the process of an NCAT dispute over the Owners Corporation’s failure to repair the common property. We have concrete cancer that is damaging the flooring in our unit and the Owners Corporation have not made any repairs for nearly two years.

I hold a general position on the Strata Committee of which there are five positions. There is now a motion for the next General Meeting to remove me from the Strata Committee because of ‘conflict of interest’. Is this valid?

My response to this is as follows:

Firstly, the act does not recognise this situation as a conflict of interest. For this to arise, the committee may

]]>https://www.thestratacollective.com.au/strata-committee-conflict-over-repairs/feed/0Short-term Letting in NSWhttps://www.thestratacollective.com.au/short-term-letting-in-nsw/
https://www.thestratacollective.com.au/short-term-letting-in-nsw/#respondTue, 19 Jun 2018 18:53:29 +0000https://thestratacollective.com.au/short-term-letting-in-nsw/On Tuesday, 5 June 2018, the NSW Government announced new regulations and a change to planning laws concerning the issue of short-term letting. Information concerning these new regulations can be found on the NSW Fair Trading website. The regulatory framework is designed to ensure that local communities continue to gain from the economic benefits...

On Tuesday, 5 June 2018, the NSW Government announced new regulations and a change to planning laws concerning the issue of short-term letting. Information concerning these new regulations can be found on the NSW Fair Trading website.

The regulatory framework is designed to ensure that local communities continue to gain from the economic benefits of short-term holiday letting, while protecting neighbours from anti-social behaviour.

The new framework will include new planning laws, an industry Code of Conduct and new provisions for strata scheme by-laws.

Information about these new planning laws, the code of conduct and how this affects strata schemes can all be found on the Fair Trading website.

The introduction of the new framework will require changes to existing laws which must be approved by Parliament.

The Code will be developed in consultation with Government agencies, and industry and community groups during 2018.

Stay informed by visiting the website regularly for updates. Also see the following article published in Domain.com.au.

]]>https://www.thestratacollective.com.au/short-term-letting-in-nsw/feed/0Debt Recover Procedures for Stratahttps://www.thestratacollective.com.au/debt-recover-procedures-for-strata/
https://www.thestratacollective.com.au/debt-recover-procedures-for-strata/#respondThu, 14 Jun 2018 20:22:10 +0000https://thestratacollective.com.au/debt-recover-procedures-for-strata/What happens when not only one or two but six lots fall behind on their strata levy fees? Do the rest of the owners need to pay? Unfortunately, many strata schemes have difficulty with one or two owners that are behind in paying their levies. This is normal, however 6 owners in a small...

What happens when not only one or two but six lots fall behind on their strata levy fees? Do the rest of the owners need to pay?

Unfortunately, many strata schemes have difficulty with one or two owners that are behind in paying their levies. This is normal, however 6 owners in a small building is unusual.

Good strata managers will follow-up up levies promptly, especially if they are in arrears. This is why it is so important to appoint a strata manager who has strong processes around debt collection, with reminder letters to be issued against owners in arrears followed then by recovery action against any owners who fail to pay their levies after receiving reminders.

However, an owners corporation may raise special levies at a General Meeting for a number of purposes including a shortfall of funds due to owners not paying their levies. A short term special levy may be required at a building to ensure that the Owners Corporation can continue to operate whilst the outstanding levies are being recovered.

It is not recommended not to pay this special levy as it may end up in litigation to recover outstanding amounts. It is wise to assist your owners corporation even though it may seem unfair.

Make sure you ask your strata manager to send you a copy of the levy collection process and policy as this may require improvement to avoid such a situation.

]]>https://www.thestratacollective.com.au/debt-recover-procedures-for-strata/feed/0Who is Responsible for Non-structural Wall Cracks?https://www.thestratacollective.com.au/who-is-responsible-for-non-structural-wall-cracks/
https://www.thestratacollective.com.au/who-is-responsible-for-non-structural-wall-cracks/#respondWed, 04 Apr 2018 13:37:06 +0000https://thestratacollective.com.au/who-is-responsible-for-non-structural-wall-cracks/Scenario: A unit owner has cracks in their walls from slight building settlement. It has been determined that these cracks are not a structural issue but limited to their apartment’s internal cement render. As all walls are common property it is assumed that the cost of their cosmetic repair is the body corporate’s responsibility. Once...

A unit owner has cracks in their walls from slight building settlement. It has been determined that these cracks are not a structural issue but limited to their apartment’s internal cement render. As all walls are common property it is assumed that the cost of their cosmetic repair is the body corporate’s responsibility. Once the cracks are filled and sandpapered flat, the walls will require repainting. Is all costs associated with painting internal walls the sole responsibility of the lot owner?

Answer:

If the cracking has been assessed as being of cosmetic / minor nature by a professional the owners corporation is not required to take any further action. If the owner is concerned with the cracking and how it looks, they can simply patch and paint the wall at their cost. Minor cracking is a common occurrence as part of the aging process in apartments.

]]>https://www.thestratacollective.com.au/who-is-responsible-for-non-structural-wall-cracks/feed/0Renovations in Strata (Updated)https://www.thestratacollective.com.au/renovations-in-strata-updated/
https://www.thestratacollective.com.au/renovations-in-strata-updated/#respondWed, 21 Mar 2018 17:11:31 +0000https://thestratacollective.com.au/renovations-in-strata-updated/The NSW Strata Legislation changed on 30 November 2016. The team at The Strata Collective has worked extremely hard to make sure we are able to advise our owners on the specific changes to their Strata Management service. With the legislation changes, one of the main aims in the NSW Office of Fair Trading...

The NSW Strata Legislation changed on 30 November 2016. The team at The Strata Collective has worked extremely hard to make sure we are able to advise our owners on the specific changes to their Strata Management service.

With the legislation changes, one of the main aims in the NSW Office of Fair Trading Legislation white paper was to streamline and facilitate easier renovations within Strata Buildings (white page found here – see page 26 item 2.9). This was to ensure that Strata Managers can quickly turn around renovation applications for their owners an allow owners greater flexibility to change the inside of their apartment.

The team at The Strata Collective believes that the requirements for renovations in Strata apartments has been clarified, however not simplified.

The Strata Collective Managing Director, Rod Smith states “This is an unfortunate miss by the Office of Fair Trading. Most strata buildings don’t want to tie their owners up in red tape and would prefer to deal with renovation applications at Strata Committee level, after having received assurances around the structural ability to complete the proposed work as well as a commitment to provide copies of insurances and warranties to protect the Owners Corporation from future claims.”

Minor renovations (as defined in Section 110 of the SSMA). All such renovations can be Ordinary Resolution at a General Meeting or approval by the Strata Committee if the Owners Corporation has delegated this function. The best way to delegate this function to Strata Committees is by the Owners Corporation adopting a works by-law with a renovation form. This will simplify the process for Strata Committees enormously.

Works that are not Cosmetic Work or Minor Renovations that require a special resolution and often a by-law as well. These works are listed in Section 109 (5) B-H of the SSMA

The list below is a guide for owners on the level of authority required for different types of renovations:

There are many possible renovations that could be completed by an owner and we recommend that our owners contact their Strata Manager for further information on their application.

The Strata Collective Renovation Form is attached for our clients. For non-clients, please feel free to use this (which has The Strata Collective’s logos removed).

Regarding how to proactively manage owner renovations, The Strata Collective team believes that Strata Managers should be proactive and discuss with their Strata Committee the option of emailing all owners three months prior to the AGM. This will provide sufficient warning that the AGM is coming up and that owners who wish to renovate their apartment should contact the Strata Manager to start the renovation approval process. By handling most renovations once a year at the AGM, this will save the owners time and money and reduce the need to call one off general meetings throughout the year (at a cost to the applicant or Strata).

If you have any specific questions regarding renovations in strata, please speak to your Strata Manager at The Strata Collective.

]]>https://www.thestratacollective.com.au/renovations-in-strata-updated/feed/0Replacing Screen Doors in Strata Titlehttps://www.thestratacollective.com.au/replacing-screen-doors-in-strata-title/
https://www.thestratacollective.com.au/replacing-screen-doors-in-strata-title/#respondWed, 21 Mar 2018 16:46:52 +0000https://thestratacollective.com.au/replacing-screen-doors-in-strata-title/Question: The fly screen of a unit balcony is very old. Who should be paying to replace the screen door? Is it the owners cost or should the owners corporation carry out this repair? Answer: In almost all cases, fly screens and screen doors on apartments are lot owner property and not common property...

The fly screen of a unit balcony is very old. Who should be paying to replace the screen door? Is it the owners cost or should the owners corporation carry out this repair?

Answer: In almost all cases, fly screens and screen doors on apartments are lot owner property and not common property as the screens didn’t form part of the common property at the time of the strata scheme being registered. Therefore it is up to the lot owner to replace them.

Repairs to older strata schemes

There is however an added level of complexity with this situation in that the parts of building classified as lot property or common property are different for older strata schemes.

For strata schemes pre-1 July 1974, (normally with a strata plan number before 7500-8000), the section of wall and balcony door between the balcony and apartment is classified as lot property and not common property.

]]>https://www.thestratacollective.com.au/replacing-screen-doors-in-strata-title/feed/0What are ACP Cladding Systems?https://www.thestratacollective.com.au/what-are-acp-cladding-systems/
https://www.thestratacollective.com.au/what-are-acp-cladding-systems/#respondSun, 04 Mar 2018 16:55:31 +0000https://thestratacollective.com.au/what-are-acp-cladding-systems/Introduction Aluminium Composite Panels “ACP” is a building cladding material commonly used in internal and external wall systems for its light weight, durability and structural performance. Recently there has been an increased awareness and concern around ACP cladding and the fire risk associated with ACP cladding following a number of cladding fires around the world,...

Aluminium Composite Panels “ACP” is a building cladding material commonly used in internal and external wall systems for its light weight, durability and structural performance. Recently there has been an increased awareness and concern around ACP cladding and the fire risk associated with ACP cladding following a number of cladding fires around the world, including Australia.

ACP Cladding systems ACP panels are typically 4mm to 6mm thick and consists of core material sandwiched between two thin layers of aluminium. The core material is generally 3mm to 5mm thick with the aluminium sheets each at 0.5mm thick.

The composition of the core materials used in ACP vary, the four general categories of ACP which is defined by their core materials are:

The Fire Risks Associated with ACP The fire performance of any ACP cladding system installed on a building should be understood entirely in respect to its installation, the existing fire protection systems and life safety considerations. The behaviour of aluminium cladding products with polyethylene core have been well documented and it is classified as a combustible product. Once ignited, the polyethylene burns vigorously with the convected heat spreading flames up-ward to involve further cladding sheets.

The fire has also been shown to spread laterally via radiant heat and wind driven convection to cladding panels to either side, which can lead to the fire involving the cladding on adjacent surfaces. The third mechanism for fire spread from polyethylene panels is for the burning material to create flaming droplets, which ignites panels located below where the fire starts. These droplets can also cause exits located below PE panels to become unusable.Government Actions and Regulatory Framework The primary legislation applicable to construction is the National Construction Code, previously known as the BCA. The BCA provides a set of prescriptive requirements, the deemed to satisfy (DtS) provisions, that provides a deemed acceptable level of safety and assumed compliance with the BCA Performance Requirements. Variations from the BCA DtS provisions may be addressed as Performance Solutions if they can be shown to comply with the relevant BCA Performance Requirements. To manage the potential issues of problematic ACP, Federal and State Governments have established inquiries into the potential exposure for buildings in relation to non-conforming and non-compliant building products. Governments are particularly focused on the potential exposure caused by inappropriate use of some types of aluminium composite panels (ACPs).Property Owner Investigations A number of strata schemes are auditing their properties to determine which properties contain ACP. Their audit includes investigations that accurately identify the ACP type and the installation method. Where required risk assessments are being undertaken to understand the risk associated with the ACP that includes consideration of fire protection systems at each location. Approach to ACP Identification and Reporting The Insurance Council of Australia, The Fire Protection Association and Engineers Australia have developed an ACP identification and reporting protocol. A summary of this protocol is outlined in the following steps below:Step 1 – Identification of Materials It is critical to accurately understand which type of ACP cladding has been used at a building. The primary purpose is to accurately classify and quantify the materials present in order to determine the fire load along with its location and proximity to ignition sources. If you have ACP or suspect you have ACP in your tenancy we recommend you undertake investigations to accurately identify the ACP. The investigation should be completed by a competent fire protection or fire safety professional and their report should answer the following questions:

Who has carried out inspections and testing for the tenant, and testing of the cladding material, what are their relevant competencies, qualifications and experience and what testing laboratories were used to test the samples?What category(s) of ACPs are present on the building?What quantity of the material is present and extent of coverage (m2)?What substrate or insulation is present behind the ACP?What potential ignition sources exist for the ACP given the configuration of the building?

Step 2 – Evaluate the Exposure Using the identification and quantification outcomes of Step 1, the purpose of this step is to provide a consistent report into the exposure of the building regarding the presence of ACPs.Step 3 – Remedial Actions for Consideration Remedial actions (if any are required) will be different from building to building and dependent on the category of ACP and insulation/sarking installed. Depending on the quantity of ACP installed, its configuration and installation, there is the potential for actions to be taken that would not necessarily involve 100 per cent replacement.

Conclusion

Inspections, assessments and reports commissioned by a tenant to determine the risk associated with the presence of ACPs on a building should be carried out by competent fire protection professionals including fire safety engineers.

]]>https://www.thestratacollective.com.au/what-are-acp-cladding-systems/feed/0NSW: Pre-1974 Schemeshttps://www.thestratacollective.com.au/nsw-pre-1974-schemes/
https://www.thestratacollective.com.au/nsw-pre-1974-schemes/#respondTue, 13 Feb 2018 14:58:46 +0000https://thestratacollective.com.au/nsw-pre-1974-schemes/For owners corporations with a strata plan registered prior to 1 July 1974, things work a bit differently than for other schemes. There are important differences regarding what is common property and what owners corporations and lot owners are responsible for. This is because schemes registered prior to 1 July 1974 were set up under...

For owners corporations with a strata plan registered prior to 1 July 1974, things work a bit differently than for other schemes. There are important differences regarding what is common property and what owners corporations and lot owners are responsible for.

This is because schemes registered prior to 1 July 1974 were set up under different legislation, which provided for a different demarcation between lot property and common property. For these schemes, under the so-called "centreline rule", the boundary between separate lots and lots and common property was the centreline of the dividing structures, i.e. walls, floors and ceilings. The practical consequence of this is that part of the dividing structure was lot property and owned by the lot owner, restricting what the owners corporation could do with the dividing structure and imposing maintenance obligations on lot owners in relation to dividing structures. In some cases, transitional provisions in newer legislation may have changed this. For newer schemes, the demarcation is generally the inner surface of the dividing structures, i.e. walls, floors and ceilings.

The key points for schemes registered prior to 1 July 1974 are:

The strata plan may indicate that the boundary is the centreline or exterior face of the dividing structure, in which case the dividing structure remains partially or wholly lot property, depending on whether the centreline or exterior face is indicated.Otherwise, dividing structures between separate lots and lots and common property are common property, the lot being defined by the inner surface of the dividing structure, whether it be a wall, ceiling or floor.Dividing structures between separate parts of the same lot are lot property, even if the dividing structure is shown on the strata plan. As a result, dividing structures, such as doors and windows, between separate parts of a lot, such as a living area and separate courtyard or balcony, are lot property.

Common questions include:

1. Who owns and is responsible for maintenance of:

a. the façade of the building?

The facade will generally be common property. There are exceptions, including:

i.) Where the strata plan indicates that the boundary is not the inner surface of the facade, but rather the centreline or outer surface of the façade.

ii.) Where part of the facade divides part of a lot from another part of the same lot. For example, the facade could include a door or window dividing the internal living area of a lot from an external courtyard or balcony.

Unless one of these exceptions applies, the owners corporation will be obliged to maintain the facade and will have power to access the facade for that purpose. However, if access to the interior of an adjoining lot is required, lot owner consent or a Tribunal order may be required.

b. balustrades on balconies?

This depends on circumstances, as balustrades perform various functions, but not necessarily the function of dividing a lot from a separate lot or common property. In the case of a balcony, the strata plan may indicate the boundary of the lot to be a baseline corresponding to the outer edge of the balcony, in which case the balustrade will be situated within the lot and constitute lot property and the lot owner will bear the maintenance obligation. Alternatively, the strata plan may indicate that the balustrade is the dividing structure, in which case the boundary of the lot would be the inner surface of the balustrade, which would be common property and the owners corporation would bear the maintenance obligation.

c. windows, walls and doors between a lot and an associated courtyard or balcony?

Windows, walls and doors between a lot and an associated courtyard or balcony will generally be lot property and the lot owner will be responsible for maintenance.

2. What are the scheme’s rights if it wishes to carry out a façade upgrade and all or part of the façade is lot property, i.e. not common property?

The owners corporation requires the consent of the relevant lot owner to alter the lot property. Section 122 of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015(“SSMA”)overrides this to a limited extent, permitting the owners corporation to access lot property to carry out certain works. However, except in the case of an emergency, the owners corporation requires lot owner consent or a Tribunal access order. Also, the range of works permitted are limited, generally requiring works in order to comply with an order of a public authority, an order of the Tribunal or works required by the SSMA such as installation of child safety window barriers. The range of works which can be the subject of a Tribunal order is also limited, generally to building defect rectification works.

3. What are the scheme’s rights if it has carried out or paid for repairs to parts of the building, which are not common property, e.g. the facade, balustrades, windows, walls or doors where these are lot property? Can it seek reimbursement from the lot owner?

The owners corporation will generally have difficulty recovering, from a lot owner, the cost of repairs carried out by the owners corporation to lot property owned by the lot owner. This would be dependent on agreement with the lot owner or a statutory right. Statutory rights in this area are extremely limited. Section 120 of the SSMA does permit an owners corporation to carry out specified works and to recover the costs from the relevant owner, but this is limited to scenarios in which the owner has failed to carry out work ordered by a public authority or an order under the SSMA.

4. How can the scheme and lot owners carry out collectively an upgrade involving both lot and common property?

Owners corporations and lot owners can carry out collectively an upgrade of areas which are partly common property and partly lot property. However, in addition to a contract with the contractor undertaking the works, the owners corporation and lot owner(s) should consider entering into a development agreement between themselves. This would need to address a number of issues, including management of the works and their respective financial contributions.

If you are the owners corporation or lot owner in a pre 1974 scheme considering carrying out works to your building, please contact us first, to ensure that these issues are properly addressed.